Cost is virtually always a primary consideration as an organization prepares to launch into a mobile app or software development project. These concerns over budget often prompt companies to seek ways to reduce development costs without affecting quality — a major challenge that can land clients in a bad situation with a sub-par software platform or mobile app.
One of the more efficient strategies for reducing development costs without impacting quality entails using a common code base and coding technologies like React Native. The end result is a more rapid development timeframe and reduced per-platform cost for both the initial build and future maintenance.
What is a Common Code Base? And How Does it Impact Development Cost?
A software program, mobile app or web app is, at its core, a collection of code — collectively called a code base.
When two or more platforms share portions of a code base, you’re essentially getting a two-for-one that allows for faster development, more rapid deployment and faster, less costly updates in the future.
A common code base development strategy can include frameworks such as React Native and the React JS library or a Linux unified code base (UCB). The latter was pioneered by the automotive industry to develop technologies for allowing consumers to connect their devices to in-vehicle infotainment systems.
In some cases, mobile apps and desktop software can share upwards of 90% of their code, with approximately 10% of the code specific to each platform. Compare this with two disparate stand-alone platforms — each with their own, unique code base — and it’s easy to see how this shared code can slash costs, development timeframe and software / mobile app maintenance expenses.
What is React Native and React JS?
Introduced by Facebook, React Native is a framework used to create native mobile apps and cross-platform web apps using JavaScript code. React Native uses native APIs to render the mobile app on a mobile device.
React Native dovetails with a Facebook-generated JavaScript library called React JS (or just “React”). React has gained favor in the development industry because it allows for great versatility in the web app UI development process. With its dynamic, high-performance capabilities, developers use the React JS library to develop more robust user interface (UI) elements of a web platform. Web-based React apps render browser code via a Virtual DOM, instead of an API like React Native.
React JS and React Native share many commonalities that make this technology pairing an increasingly popular choice among developers. And both are gaining favor thanks to their ability to deliver a dynamic, responsive experience to the user, as they simultaneously maintain a native feel on mobile devices.
How Does React Native Reduce Development Costs in the Short-Term and Long Term?
Common code bases and dovetailing technologies like React Native and React JS offer numerous advantages. Consider these points:
- Shorter Development Timeframe: The timeframe for developing on multiple platforms (e.g. a mobile app and a desktop platform) is cut dramatically when you use a unified code base or React Native / React JS technology. Some platform-specific coding is necessary, but it’s possible to share 80% to 90% of the coding for a mobile app and accompanying desktop platform.
- Reduced Development Costs: The per-platform software / app development costs are much lower than they would be if you were to build two separate stand-alone platforms using totally separate code bases. Instead, you can use a single code base for web-based and mobile app platforms.
- Lower Per-Platform Maintenance Costs: The annual cost to maintain two disparate, stand-alone software platforms is typically between 15% to 20% of each platform’s initial development cost. On the other hand, if your platforms share code, the annual maintenance and update costs may fall more in the range of 20% to 30% of the initial development cost. That’s a significant savings in the long-term.
Not every mobile app or software development project is well-suited to React Native / React JS or a common code base. But an experienced, reputable development company can help you make the most of your software development budget, without cutting corners in a way that adversely impacts quality.
Choosing the Right Software Development Company
As you consider your software development project strategy, it’s vital that you choose a development company that specializes in the right approach or technology. At 7T, we have extensive experience in the realms of React Native development, common code base and unified code base development projects for the automotive industry. Our team has encountered many clients who’ve sought our help after they “got what they paid for” when attempting to cut development costs. We’re well-versed on what it takes to build a robust, dynamic and user-friendly platform that brings a significant ROI.
A leading Dallas mobile app and software development company, 7T specializes in digital transformation by developing mobile apps and software platforms that feature emerging technologies, from mobile app development, custom software projects such as CRM platforms and ERP development, or Snowflake data solutions, we are ready to deliver collaborative, multi-phased software development services to clients in all business sectors.
At 7T, our development team enjoys working with company leaders who are seeking to solve problems and drive ROI through digital transformation. We’ve earned a reputation as an innovative Dallas software development company, as 7T integrates cutting-edge solutions into virtually every project, whether it’s mobile app development, CRM platforms or ERP development, and data solutions. We’re here to deliver collaborative, multi-phased software development services.
7T maintains offices in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and Austin, but our clientele spans the globe. If you’re ready to start creating your software development project, contact 7T today.